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By arrangement with the Education Authority, certain class
rooms in these schools were closed for short periods. In several
other schools exclusion of children showing evidence of suspicious
illness (sore throats, sickness, etc.) was the procedure carried out.
The first-named school is a modern, well built school, admirably
situated in so far as hygienic surroundings go, and within
a few yards of Clapham Common. The children attending this
school, in the main, belong to a more prosperous, better cared for
and better housed class of the community. During the autumn
months an outbreak, which gave rise to considerable trouble,
occurred amongst the children in attendance at this school. It
was found necessary to close three class rooms, in connection with
which there was strong direct evidence pointing to infection taking
place among the children therein. This action was followed by
satisfactory results. Between 40 and 50 children attending the
school were notified to be suffering from Scarlet Fever during the
year, the great majority of whom were infected during the autumn
outbreak. Thus 4 cases were notified during August (3rd to the
13th). No further case was notified until the 10th September, an
interval of a month, soon after the reopening of the school after
the summer vacation. During September 5 cases, October 12
cases, November 6 cases, and December 6 cases (the last case
being notified on the 14th of that month).
Exclusion of certain suspected children was first tried in connection
with this outbreak. Notwithstanding this action, the
cases still continued to occur. It was apparent as a result
of thorough investigation of the matter that certain class rooms
were responsible for the spread of infection. Arrangements were
made for the closure of these rooms, a proceeding which was
almost immediately followed by gratifying results.
This outbreak is of particular interest, having regard to the
situation of the school, its general high standard of sanitation,
and the status of the children attending. There could be no
question that infection was taking place in the school. In only
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